Scandal-plagued FBI Director Kash Patel spurred an uproar Sunday with a bizarre public statement on the "sudden" death of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).
Patel — whose social antics last week included a curse-laden tweet regarding a luxury lifestyle that has infuriated a powerful Senate Republican — took to X once again with an eyebrow-raising message.
"Senator Lindsey Graham was a devoted public servant, a fierce defender of our nation, and a true patriot who dedicated his life to the people of South Carolina and the United States," Patel wrote.
"The FBI is assisting local authorities and has made every necessary resource available."
Suddenly more and more people began to ask one question, posed here by senior national political correspondent for U.S. News & World Report Olivier Knox: "Why is the FBI involved?"
Patel did not immediately respond to explain a comment CBS News reporter Jennifer Jacobs felt was noteworthy enough to alert to her near 400,000 followers.
The FBI director's comment came just hours after Graham's office stated the Republican senator died Saturday night from a "brief and sudden illness."
Veteran journalist Dave Statter later obtained audio of the emergency medical services radio traffic as Graham was rushed to George Washington Hospital in D.C.
“Emergency radio traffic indicates that Senator Lindsey Graham suffered chest pains before going into cardiac arrest Saturday night,” Statter wrote Sunday morning in a social media post on X.
“Efforts to revive the South Carolina lawmaker were not successful. Graham died two days after his 71st birthday.”
But the simple explanation, that a 71-year-old man who made frequent and long trips by air suffered a heart attack, was swiftly rejected by MAGA conspiracy theorists who asserted, without evidence, Graham's recent trip to Ukraine suggested Russian foul play.
This is the context in which Patel decided to tell Americans the FBI was assisting local authorities without explanation as to why. The responses show the result.
"Russian Operatives?" asked X user Nana Lady Katie. "Probably not happy with Grahams support for Ukraine."
"Sudden illness, in a us senator who has access to the best health care available," replied another named Tom. "I'm not buying it."
"IS ANYONE CHECKING TO SEE IF SENATOR GRAHAM WAS POISONED BY RUSSIA ?" X user Jerry L. Wolf demanded. "PRETTY CURIOUS TIMING AS HE WAS JUST IN UKRAINE HELPING THEM DEFEAT RUSSIA !!
Another shared the latest conspiracy theory from Laura Loomer that begins with the words, "MUST READ!"
Political commentator Rogue POTUS Staff scanned the replies and wrote a plea directly to Patel.
"Kash, this is so damn reckless," the commenter said. "There's absolutely no good reason for you to say this. But you desperately need attention and you can't seem to get it through your head that it takes more than social media likes to be good at your job."